A BASKET IN EVERY ROOM

Once we put Henry to bed, the first thing I do is pick up the toys off the living room rug and toss them into a basket. In a minute, the room is tidy, and a chaotic afternoon transitions to a quiet evening. While I'm not one to advocate hoarding storage containers for superfluous items, there are some daily necessities that require containment. A basket bestows warmth to a room while maintaining a practical purpose.

We have baskets in every room - some tucked into discrete corners to contain items that would otherwise be strewn across floors, becoming encumbrances to startled feet. Others are displayed haphazardly on shelves, while secretly containing sentimental notes or our stashed electronics.

Keep a large basket in your living room for blankets and pillows, or in your bedroom to crisply tuck away dirty laundry. Use another to keep piles of books within reach of a favorite reading spot. Hide mismatched toiletries in a basket where they remain easily accessible. What would elsewhere be labeled "a mess" appears quaint and endearing in a clever basket.